High prevalence of vitamin D and calcium deficiency among pregnant women and their newborns in Chengdu, China

Vitamin D and calcium deficiency is common in pregnant women and newborn infants. There are few data about the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D during pregnancy and infancy in China. We assessed vitamin D status of pregnant women and their neonates in Chengdu, Sichuan province, China. Maternal serum and cord blood levels of calcium, 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], alkaline phosphatase, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were studied in 77 urban and rural mother-neonate pairs at term. The mean level of maternal serum 25(OH)D was 35.95 +/- 19.7 nmol/L, and that of cord blood 25(OH)D was 40.98 +/- 18.89 nmol/L. The intake of calcium and vitamin D was uniformly low, although it was higher in urban (1010 +/- 450 mg/d, 237 +/- 169 IU/d) than in rural (320 +/- 210 mg/d, 62 +/- 66 IU/d) women. Maternal serum 25(OH)D was correlated positively with cord blood 25(OH)D (r=0.94, P < 0.01). There is a high prevalence of vitamin D and calcium insufficiency in pregnant women and neonates in Chengdu even when mothers are compliant with prenatal vitamin supplementation. Supplementation is needed to improve maternal and neonatal vitamin D and calcium nutrition.